Magnet release for starting gates



Nov. 21, 1944. B. STEELE 2,363,022

MAGNET RELEASE FOR STARTING GATES Original Filed July 12, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet l 4 V ,v r I amw Nov. 21,1944.

B. STEELE MAGNET RELEASE FOR. STARTING GATES Original Filed July 12,1940 2 SheetS-Sheet Patented Nov. 21, 1944 MAGNET RELEASEFORSTARTINGGATES,

Bryant Steele, Keenland, Ky., assignor to David E. White, Cleveland,Ohio Original application July 12, 1940, Serial No. 345,219. Divided andthis applicationJuly 15,

1942, Serial No. 450,995

9 Claims. 01. 292-1) This device relates to a release means forreleasing the parts of a permanent magnet, con.- structed for instanceof the compositions disclosed in the Ruder patents, Numbers 1,947,274and 1,968,569; Mishima patents, Numbers 2,027,994 to 2,028,000inclusive, and the Howe patent; Number 2,192,743, althoughthe inventionis not limited to the used the compositions dis- I closed in thesepatents except as set forth in the claims. Magnets constructed inaccordance with the teachings of one or more ofthese patents have beencalled by the term of Alnico metal magnets or sintered Alnico metalmagnets These magnets have been of the permanent mag net type, and nomeans has heretofore been devised to cause the release of the magnetforces of the magnets.

The present application is a division of my copending applicationSerial; No. 345,219, filed July 12, 1940. 1 1 a An object of the presentinvention is to provide a means for releasing the magnet forces of, ordemagnetizin-g, a permanent magnet, such as an Alnico metal magnet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a race horse starting gatehaving doors for the release of thehorses provided with permanentmagnets, such as magnets of Alnico metal with means for effecting therelease of, or demagnetization of the magnets.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa plan, view of apai r? of doors of a starting gateprovidedwith the device of my invention. l I Figure 2 is an elevational viewofthe magnet release device shown detached fromthe doors of Fig. 1 forclarity of illustration.

Figure 3 isa top plan view of the device shown in Figure 2, certainparts being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modification of the device showninFigures 2 and 3. Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the magnet block. r

Figure 6 is a front elevational viewof a starting gate showing theinvention applied in slightly modified form. r

In the drawings the numeral I indicates a mounting block or basepreferably constructed of brass, and provided with side plates 2.

The base is provided with a recess 3 for the reception of the magnetblock 4 which is retained in the recess in fixed position by suitablemeans which are mounted in the 5 such as the screws 5 side plates.

I manner for holding the Alnico'or other magnetic material, but I preferto construct th same as shown in Figure 5, wherein 6 is a brass orbronze alloy center portion partially surrounded by a: steel or otherferrous metal portion of general horse-shoe configuration. The numeral 9indicates spaces for the reception of brass strips I 0 which do notextend all the way to the end of the magnet block at one of their ends,and which connect with or abut the brass center portion at their otherends. H

Set into the steel or otherferrous metal portion is the sinteredAlnicogmagnetic plug 8, an

alloy composed of aluminum, nickel, iron and cobalt; in accordance withthe above enumerated patents.

The side plates 2 mount bearing portions I 2 each of which is providedwith an elongated slot [3 in which seat the :pins l4 that extend fromeach side of the secondary short-circuiting armature or release-plateI'5. This plate is therefore pivotall mounted in the slots l3. The plateis provided adjacent its other end with an upstanding ear l6 having anapertur H for the reception of the nose lil of the latch arm I8 as shownprovided with a core which, when energized,

pulls thelatch arm downwardly- (Figure 2), to

release the nose from the aperture I! to thereby permit the spring 22 toforce the secondary armature into contact with one side of the magnetblock. The spring 22 is mountedron top ot the base I.

, The primary armature is designated by the numeral 23. This preferablyconsists ofa central bronze portion 24 having fixedly attached thereto aferrous metal portion 25, and on the,

opposite'side another ferrous metal portion, 26.

The ferrous metal portion 25 consists of a series cated at 3|.

of blocks providing slots 21. Strips of bronze material 28 extend almostto the edge of the slots and connect orabut at their opposite endswiththe centralbronze portion 24.

The primary armature may be guided in its movements toward the magnetblock 4 by a metal strap 29 securedto theside platesZ by screws 30.

known construction andmayalso be, mounted as shown in the alternativeconstruction shown in Figure 4 wherein one of the side plates is, indi-The electro-magnet shown may be of any well plates 2 and are provided,with ears, 32-hayin elongated slots 33 in which ar mounted the pins N-T'oFFrc E- These plates are 'similar' to the 34 forming the pivots forthe secondary armature or release plate 35. The electro-magnet isindicated by the numeral 35 and is mounted on the arm 31, which latteris aflixed by suitable means such as the screw 38 to the base 39. The

secondary armature is urged to its closed position by the spring 40which is mounted on the base by means of the screw 4|. Theelectro-magnet is provided with a core 42'.

The primary armature is indicated by the numeral 43. This armature isthe same or similar to that disclosed in Figures 2 and Band maybe,

guided towards the magnetblockwhich is not illustrated but which is thsame'as-th'at shown in Figure3, by the strap 44 which is afiixed to thebase by screws 45.

" parts I8, I!) and shown in Figures 2 and 3, or

I have shown in Figure 1 meme to which my invention may be applied. Thenumerals 46 and 41 indicate pivoted doors of the type illustrated I inmy Patent No. 2,193,257, granted March 12;

1940'. As illustrated, theprimaryfiarmature 23 is niountedzonasupporting strap 48 connectedadjacent to the endof :the doorL Hi;v Themagnet and release shown in Figures 2 and 3 are mounted'adj'acentto thejuxtapositioned end of the other door 41. The electro-magnetm is mountedon an arm 49 which is also aflixedto the door 41. An'electric: circuitis indicated by the numeral 50 having a source 5l andia manuallyoperated switch 52. i 1 1 y I It willbe apparent that upon completion ofthe circuit by operating the switch 52; the latch l8 will bewithdrawnfrom the aperture I! whereupon the spring 22 will: immediatelyforce the of passing through the primary armature 23.

When this occurs-the springs tending toopen the doorsllfi and 4-! (shownin Figure 3of my prior patents above) will immediately cause the openingof said pair of doors in the same manner as described in my patent. Itis tofbe understood that there are as many pairs of doors as shown in-Figure 1 as there are stalls. Itis-of course obvious" also that eachmagnet maybe controlled: from a single circuit as indicated in Figure 5of mypatent. r I

Figure 6- showsanothermanner of applying my invention to a startinggateforrace tracks. In the figure, 54*and 55 indicate vertical postspiv-- otally mounted to the superstructure 53 andpartitions 62 and 6 3;Rigidly mounted on these posts so as to swing therewith are the doors 56and. I H 3 The arms58 and59 are rigidly mounted on the posts 54 and 55respectively and swing therewith. When the doors are in closed positionas' man cated in the figure'the" magnet 60 mounted 'on the arm53and theprimary armature '5 l mounted on the arm 59 contacteach other and holdthe pair of doors 56 and 51m closed positionuntil the electro-magnet isoperated to release the armature 6| from the magnet 50-. The doors areopened'by springs not shown but as indicated iii-Figure 3 of my patentabove'referred to. The magnet and electro -magnet diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 6 are the same in detail as those disclosed inFigures '2, 3 or 4 of the applica-' ti'on. I It will be noted that thestructure shown byFigures 2"and 3 the secondary'armature is the parts35* and 42 in Figure 4. t In each form of embodiment the device may f bemanually reset to the position-of Fig. 3 or Fig.

4. In the Fig. 3 device the secondary armature '15 is retracted againstthe spring 22 to engage the latch parts t9 and H. In the Fig. 4 devicethe secondary armature 35 is pulled back while the circuit to the coil36 is closed.

It is to be understood that the device of the present invention: may beused not only on gates for starting horses atva rack track,but'that'thei in fact'any use which includes a permanent mag-.

net or an electro magnet.

I claim? 1. The combination with apairof-cooperating I door-members of apermanent magnet mounted in substantiallyfixed relation to one of themembers and a primary armature mounted in substan't'ia'lly fixedrelation t'o'the other member for engagement" with the permanent magnetwhen the members" are in'closed relation, aseoondary armature mountedadjacent to the permanent magnet and movable-between an inoperativeposition spaced from the'permanent mag-net and an operative positionshunting the magnetic fluxof thepei'manentmagnet, and electro-magneticmeans for controlling movement of the secondary armature.

2. The combination witha pairof cooperating door members of'a permanentmagnet mounted in substantially fined relation to one of the members anda primary armature mounted in sub-- stantiallyfixed' relation totheother member for engagement with the permanent magnet when themembers are in closedrelatioma secondary armature mounted adjacent tothe permanent magnet and movable between an inoperative position spacedfrom the permanent magnet and an operative position shunting themagneticflux of the permanent magnet, means biasing the secondaryarmature to operative position, a latch for holding the secondaryarmature in inopera-' tive position, and electro-magnetic means for releasing the latch;

3. The combination as pair ofcooioratihg door members of afpermanentmagnet mounted in substantially fixed relation to one of the members anda primary armaturemounted in substantially fixed relation to the othermemberfor' engagement with thepermanent magnet when i the members are inclosed relation, afsec'ond'ary 4. The combination with a pair ofcooperating door members of a permanent magnet mounted the doors areclosed, of a permanent magnet in substantially fixed relation to one ofthe members and a primary armature mounted in substantially fixedrelation to the other member for engagement with the permanent magnetwhen the members are in closed relation, a secondary armature pivotedadjacent to the permanent magnet to swing away from the permanent magnetto an inoperative position and to swing toward the permanent magnet toan operative position shunting the magnetic flux of the permanentmagnet, and electro-magnetic means controlling movement of the secondaryarmature.

5. The combination with a pair of cooperating door members of apermanent; magnet mounted in substantially fixed relation to one of themembers and a primary armature mounted in substantially fixed relationto the other member for engagement with the permanent magnet when themembers are in closed relation, a secondary armature pivoted adjacent tothe permanent magnet to swing away from the permanent magnet to aninoperative position and to swing toward the permanent magnet to anoperative position shunting themagnetic flux of the permanent magnet,means biasing the secondary armature toward operative position, a latchfor holding the secondary armature in inoperative position, and

electro-magnetic means for releasing said latch.

6. The combination with a pair of cooperating door members of apermanent magnet mounted in substantially fixed relation to one of themembers and a primary armaturemounted in sub-' stantially fixed relationto the other member for engagement with the permanent magnet when themembers are in closed relation, a secondary,

armature pivoted adjacent to the permanent magnet to swing away from thepermanent magnet to an inoperative position and to swing to-,,

ward thepermanent magnet to an operative position shunting the magneticflux of the permanent magnet, means, biasing the secondary armaturetoward operative position, and electro-magnetic means adapted whenenergized to hold the secondary armature tion.

,7. The combination, with a pair of hinged doors having free edgesadapted to meet in a dihedral angle less than a straight angle whenstantially fixed relation to the other member for mounted insubstantially fixed relation to one of the doors, a primary armaturemounted in substantially fixed relation to the other door, said magnetand armature being positioned to engage each other in lengthwisealignment when the doors are closed,'and a guide for the armaturemounted adjacent to the magnet to interengage with the-armature toprevent relative lateral displacement of the armature and magnet whenengaged.

8. The combination, with a pair of hinged doors having free edgesadapted to meet in a dihedral angle less than a straight angle when, thedoors are closed, of a permanent magnet mounted in substantially fixedrelation to one of the doors, a primary armature mounted insubstantially fixed relation to the other door, said magnet and armaturebeing positioned to engage each other 1 closed, and a guide for thearmature fixed adjacent to the magnet and including an opening adaptedto be penetrated by the armature and surrounded by a rigid wall engagingwith the armature to prevent relative lateral displacement of thearmature and magnet when engaged.

9. The combination with a pair of cooperating door members of apermanent magnet mounted in substantially fixed relation to one of themembers anda primary armature mounted in subengagement with thepermanent magnet when a the members are in closed relation, a secondaryarmature pivoted adjacent to the permanent magnet to swing away from thepermanent magnet to an inoperative position and to swing toward thepermanent magnet to an operative position shunting the magnetic flux ofthe permanent magnet, a spring biasing the secondary armature towardoperative position, an apertured ear extending from the face of thesecondary armature j opposite the permanent magnet, a movable latch ininoperative posiarm engageable in said aperture for holding thesecondary armature in against the opposition of the spring, and anelectro-magnet adapted when energized to move the latch armout of theaperture and release the secondary armature for movement by the springtoward operative position.

BRYANT STEELE.

inoperative position-

